Umbilical hernia pad



Jam, 3% 1950 p, AMRQ$E 2,496,081

UMBILICAL. HERNIA PAD Filed July 30. 1948 JNVENTOR. PauZ Ambrose W GA Jml,

I ATTO'RNEKS Patented Jan. 31, 1950 2,496,081 UMBILICAL HERNIA PAD PaulAmbrose, Bridgeport, Conn. Application July so, 1948, Serial No. 41,614

Claims.

4 This invention relates to pads adapted for use in the correction ofumbilical hernias, especially in children.

Heretofore broad strips of adhesive have been applied over the umbilicusand abdomen in order to correct a hernia. This tape was uncomfortable,painful in its removal and difficult to properly apply.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantage of the above means fortreating umbilical hernias.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved umbilical herniapad which is simple to apply and use, is very clean and sanitary, andalso comfortable to wear easily removed, and effective in its action.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved umbilical padas above, which is easily cleaned and very durable whereby it may beused over and over again indefinitely.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved umbilicalpad according to the foregoing, which is extremely simple inconstruction and economical to produce.

A feature of the invention when the pad is made of transparent materialis that the condition of umbilicus may be seen at any time while the padis being worn without requiring removal of the pad.

In accomplishing the above objects there is provided by the invention anovel pad structure comprising a relatively small, generally flatbutton-like rigid body, preferably formed of clear or transparentplastic material such as methyl methacrylate resin (commercially knownas Lucite).

On one side of the body there is a protruding portion or dome adapted toengage the umbilicus and slightly depress the same when the pad is beingworn. On the other side of the pad body a pair of spaced, shallow andwide grooves are provided, extending along and substantially coextensivewith each other, said grooves being wide enough to receive strips ofadhesive tape whereby the pad body may be applied and secured to thehuman body over the umbilicus. The strips of tape securely hold the padbody in its desired proper position and enable the pad to be easily andconveniently secured in place. Between the grooves of the body apolished rib extends, and the pad body is transparent at least adjacentthe said rib whereby the umbilicus may be viewed through the pad.

The construction and shape of the pad body is whereby it may be readilymolded and easily removed from mold cavities without requiring parts ofthe mold to be movable. Inasmuch as the pad is durable and permanent, itmay be readily washed and cleaned, and used over and over again.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a back elevational view of the improved umbilical pad of theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the pad. Fig. 3 is a frontelevational view of .the pad. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the pad, and

. Fig. 5 is a top view of the pad showing it in position on the abdomenof a wearer.

As shown, the improved umbilical pad of the invention comprises abutton-like body In having a generally circular configuration. While thebody may be made of any suitable rigid material,

it may be advantageously molded of a clear and transparent plasticmaterial such as methyl methacrylate resin known commercially as Lucite.

At its inner side the body [0 has a marginal portion H presenting agenerally fiatannular sur-,

face, inside of which there is a convex or bulbous central portion l2forming a dome or protuberance.

The outside of the body 10 has three ribs l3, l4, and i5 extendingsubstantially parallel with each other, the rib l4 being generallytransverse and disposed centrally across the face of the body, and theribs l3 and I5 being located alon opposite marginal portion of the body.Between the ribs l3, i 4 and I5 shallow, wide grooves l6 and I! aredisposed, the grooves having generally flat bottom surfaces l8transversely thereof as viewed in Fig. 2, and the said surfaces beingcurved or convexed longitudinally as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. The widthsof the grooves 16 and H are sufiicient to enable them to receive andaccommodate strips of adhesive tape [9, as shown in Fig. 3.

The shape of the body I0 is such that it may be readily molded in simplecavities and molds, being removable from the cavities without requiringparts of the mold to be movable, since there are no undercut walls.Therefore the body ID may be very economically molded in multi-cavitymolds at relatively low cost.

Referring to Fig. 5, the present improved umbilical pad may be appliedto the human body over the umbilicus thereof, in the followin manner: Apair of strips of adhesive tape H! are simple, without undercut wallsand the like first placed in the shallow grooves 16 and H, to

extend beyond both ends of the grooves, and the body I0 applied to thearea of the hernia, over the umbilicus. The flesh is then pressedtogether toward the umbilicus, depressing the latter, whereupon the endsof the adhesive strips are applied to the skin and made to adherethereto. The strips of adhesive tape [9 when so applied, will remove thestrain from the weak muscles,

and also. the body 10, will tend, to. hold the, umbilicus; slightlydepressed position and;

further relieve the strain on the muscles, thereby enabling these toregain the necessary strength,

to ultimately furnish proper support.

By forming the body [0 of clear molded plastic and by spacing apart thegrooves Hiandl'! ins. which the adhesive strips [9 are disposed, the'condition of the umbilicus may! be: observedi. through the pad, bylooking through the,section,v

of the pad constituted by the central rib" l4.

Moreover the pad [0 is not only very sanitary but-also-durable and:economical; since its plastic constructionand-shape enable it to bethoroughly cleanedby soap and water; alcohol; etc: and tobe" used overand over-again.=

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claimsand portions of the improvements may: be' used WlthOllt others.

I claim:

1. An umbilical pad-"comprising a generally fiat,circular-buttonrlikebody having a central protuberantportion-on-one-side; and' havinga pair of straightshallow, widegroovesonits other-side, said grooves" extendingstraight across the padand being-wide enough-to receive stripsof a-dhesive tape" whereby the:pad may be applied and secured to theh'umanbod'y 0ver'the;umbilic us:

2. An umbilical pad comprising-a generally flat rigid body having; aprotruding-- portion on one side and a pair of shallow, wide grooves onits; other side, extending'alongside and substantiallycoextensivewith-each other andioverlying'the pro truded;porti on said grooves beingwide enouglr to-receive stripsofadhesive tape-whereby thep ad e' humanbody may 1 be applied andi secured to th overtheumbilicus.

' therethrough.

4; An umbilical pad comprising a generally flat ,rigidbody having on oneside a pair of straight spaced, shallow, wide grooves extendingalongsideand substantially coextensive with each other, saidgroovesbeing wide enough to receive strips of adhesive tape whereby-the pad maybe applied and secured to the human body over the umbilicus, .andtheportion of'the pad between said, grooves beingtransparent'whereby theumbilicus,

may be viewed therethrough.

5; Anumbilical pad comprising a generally flat rigid body having on oneside a central pro-. truding portion surrounded by a fiat annularmarginal'portion andhaving on itsother side a pair of shallow, widegrooves extending alongside and; substantially coextensive with each;other andoverlying said centralportion, said grooves,

beingwide enoughto, receive strips of adhesive tapewhereby the pad maybe applied 'and secured to the human body overtheumbilicus,

PAULAMZBROSE;

REFERENCES CITED The; ol owin references; are; f record in the-,- fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS, Number Name Date 1 703,290 Mulford-r-g --V-- June24; 1902;, 2,070,727 Hamanng, Feb. 16,1937

